With all the corruption looming around and getting unearthed with ever greater voracity, both here and at home, it is about time we (JAINA and Jains) took lead in espousing ‘Charitra' as a Critical Asset to Restore, Build and Preserve. I believe this should be in line with our mission to bring values of Jainism for the betterment of masses and make it count as important as our cause of Ahimsa or Jiv-Daya.

Charitra, I believe is the greatest challenge of our times and is evidently less appreciated as such. Every failure of human capital has had roots in the lack of good Conduct. Corruption is but just one of the more visible failures of Charitra. We need a grass-roots movement to take it head-on. Let every one that joins in take on a promise to be selfless, truthful (without deceit) and inspire everyone in their circle of influence to do the same. Nothing less then that will ever be a challenge to the core ethos of mass politic in our nation, and every where else, where greed resides.

Jainism's virtue of Samyak Charitra, in its most basic form, is the most common trait among all of the world religions, and yet least celebrated as the most unifying facet of all faiths. JAINA can leverage the same more explicitly in it's Inter-Faith platform. We all have to seize on that and build on a popular movement, each small step at a time, in the direction of Right Conduct, in our thoughts and our deeds. And in doing so, we will bring forth the message to the betterment of our home, neighborhood, society, nation and the world at large.

We have all witnessed recent activities in Tahrir Square; a movement against the oppressor and we are all emboldened by it. Yet, the bigger devil within us remains to be humbled. As we strive to take the message of Right Conduct forward, I believe, the virtue there in will sink and imbibe within us at a greater pace.

Further more, I believe, of all the challenges that we face in the conquest towards Right Conduct, the singular and yet the most galvanizing force is that of absolutecelibacy. It is one step in the direction of Right Conduct that leaps oneself miles forward, to help tune out the cacophony of much of the virulent forces within us.